Profile of the Day

Do you have an ear for music? Perhaps it’s in your genes! 203 years ago, Giuseppe Verdi was born in Le Roncole, Italy. A dominant figure of the Italian opera scene, Verdi is remembered as one of the most renowned opera composers in history. He was born Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi to Carlo Giuseppe Verdi, an innkeeper, and Luigia Uttini, a spinner, in a small Italian village. He is believed to have been born either on… Read the full story

“If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered.” On this day in 1849, poet Edgar Allan Poe died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 40. Known for his mysterious and macabre tales, it seems almost fitting that his death would be just as strange. Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Death plagued much of the early years of his life…. Read the full story

Do you have singers in your family tree? On this day in 1820, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Born Johanna Maria Lind on October 6, 1820, Lind was the illegitimate daughter of Niclas Jonas Lind, a bookkeeper, and Anne-Marie Felborg, a school teacher. Although divorced from her first husband, Lind’s mother refused to remarry until after his death in 1834. Her parents were finally married when Lind was 14. Lind’s gift… Read the full story

Today we remember innovator Steve Jobs, who died on this day five years ago. Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California to Joanne Schieble and Abdulfatah Jandali. His biological parents were two graduate students from the University of Wisconsin and decided to put him up for adoption. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, who encouraged his education and hobby of tinkering with electronics. The co-founder of Apple, Jobs’… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Janis Joplin song? Today we remember the legendary singer on the 46th anniversary of her death. Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. From an early age, Joplin had a love of music. It was in her teens that she was first introduced to blues and jazz. Joplin was known for her bluesy, uninhibited, and gutsy singing style that was not seen in other female… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Andy Griffith Show? 56 years ago today, the classic sitcom starring Andy Griffith premiered. Set in the small town of Mayberry, the show followed the lives of the widowed sheriff, Andy Taylor, his deputy Barney Fife, his young son, Opie, and his Aunt Bee. From the moment it premiered, the show was a success. For all 8 seasons, the show consistently remained one of the most popular sitcoms on the air. By the… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Rebel Without a Cause? On this day in 1955, actor James Dean died in a car crash at the age of 24. He was born James Byron Dean on February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana. He moved to California with his parents and lived there until the death of his mother when he was nine years old. He was sent back to Indiana to live on his aunt and uncle’s farm. Dean later returned… Read the full story

Remember reading Don Quixote? Author Miguel de Cervantes is believed to have been born on this day in 1547. Although not much is known about the early years of his life, Cervantes did live an adventurous one. He enlisted in the Spanish Navy and fought in the Battle of Lepanto, where he was injured after taking three gun shots, two to the chest and one to his left arm. In 1575, he was captured by Barbary pirates as he… Read the full story

Do you remember browsing through the Sears catalog? On this day in 1914, Sears co-founder Richard Warren Sears died at the age of 50. His father, James Warren Sears, was a successful blacksmith and wagon-maker. After his death, Sears worked to help support his family. He learned telegraphy and started working as a telegraph operator and station agent for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. His life reached a turning point in 1886 when a shipment of… Read the full story

Remember the story of Johny Appleseed? On this day in 1774, the real Johnny Appleseed was born. He was born John Chapman on September 26, 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, while his father was away at war, his mother died while giving birth to a son, who also passed short time later. As the folk story goes, Johnny Appleseed wandered barefoot with a tin… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Ray Charles! Today would have been his 86th birthday. Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He was the son of Bailey Robinson, a laborer, and Aretha Williams, a sharecropper. Around the age of four or five, Charles began to lose his sight and by the age of seven, he was completely blind. Although the family had little money, Charles was able to attend the Florida School for the… Read the full story

On this day in 1761, George III was crowned King of the Kingdom of Great Britain at the age of 22. He succeeded to the throne after the death of his grandfather, George II. Just a couple of weeks before his coronation, he married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whom he did not meet until their wedding day. Together they were crowned King and Queen at Westminster Abbey on September 22, 1761. In his accession speech, George declared, “Born… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bill Murray! Today the actor turns 66. William James Murray was born on September 21, 1950 in Evanston, Illinois. He is the fifth of nine children born to Lucille Collins, a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray, II, a lumber salesman. At the age of 20, Murray was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hara Airport for trying to smuggle 10 lbs of cannabis. He was convicted and sentenced to probation. Looking for a new direction, Murray accepted his… Read the full story

On this day in 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain to find a better route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The voyage would result in the first circumnavigation of world. Magellan was born to a Portuguese noble family around 1480. After the death of his parents, he became a page to Queen Leonor, the wife of John II of Portugal. He studied cartography, astronomy and celestial navigation, which would serve him well… Read the full story

Congratulations to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her fifth consecutive Emmy win! Last night, the Veep star made Emmy Award history by breaking the record for most lead actress wins. She previously held the record in a three-way tie with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore. It was her sixth win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. Five were for her role as Selina Meyer in the HBO comedy Veep. In a hilarious and emotional speech, Julia dedicated her win to her father,… Read the full story

Do you remember reading the adventures of Curious George? On this day in 1898, illustrator and author H.A. Rey was born in Hamburg, Germany. Curious George is perhaps one of the most recognizable characters in children’s literature. Together with his wife Margaret, Rey brought to life the curious little monkey with his illustrations. Born Hans Augusto Reyersbach, Rey was the son of German Jews. He first met his wife in Hamburg at Margaret’s sister’s 16th birthday party. Years later,… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Agatha Christie novel? On this day in 1890, the crime novelist was born in Torquay, England. She was born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller to a wealthy upper-middle class family. From a young age, Christie was an avid reader with a vivid imagination. During World War I, Christie joined the war effort as a volunteer for the Voluntary Aid Detachment and worked as a nurse to tend wounded soldiers in the hospital. In 1920, Christie published… Read the full story

On the morning after the Battle of Baltimore, lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry,” which would become the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” During the War of 1812, Key accompanied Colonel John Stuart Skinner aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant to negotiate the release of prisoners. During the negotiations, the British attacked Fort McHenry, leaving Key and Skinner powerless to do anything but watch the bombardment of… Read the full story

Happy 100th birthday to beloved children’s book author Roald Dahl! Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916 in Cardiff, Wales to Norwegian parents, Harald Dahl and Sofie Magdalene Hesselerg. During World War II, Dahl served in the Royal Air Force and became an intelligence officer and wing commander. Dahl rose to fame for his delightful and heartfelt stories and became one of the wold’s best selling authors. Some of his most popular novels include Charlie and… Read the full story

Who are the athletes in your family tree? On this day in 1913, Olympic champion Jesse Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama. He made history at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany when he went home with four gold medals and single handedly defeated Adolf Hitler’s ideas of Aryan supremacy. James Cleveland Owens was the youngest of ten children born to Henry Cleveland Owens, a sharecropper, and Mary Emma Fitzgerald. As a child, Owens took on various… Read the full story

Have you read Anna Karenina? On this day in 1828, author Leo Tolstoy was born at his family’s estate in Tula, Russia. The Tolstoy family was a prominent family of old Russian nobility. He was the fourth child born to Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, a veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812, and Countess Maiya Tolstaya. Tolstoy’s parents died while he was young, and so his relatives helped care for him and his siblings. Although he… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bernie Sanders! Today the former Democratic presidential candidate turns 75. Sanders was born on September 8, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents, Elias Sanders and Dorothy Glassberg. His father immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 from Słopnice, Poland, while his mother’s parents were immigrants from Poland and Russia. Many members of his family back in Poland perished during the Holocaust. He had an interest in politics at an… Read the full story

Today we remember rock ‘n roll legend Buddy Holly on what would have been his 80th birthday. Charles Hardin Holley was born on September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. He was the fourth child born to Lawrence Odell “L.O.” Holley and Ella Pauline Drake and nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother. Growing up, Buddy wasn’t the only member of the family interested in music. His older brothers performed in local talent shows and taught him how to play the guitar…. Read the full story

On this day in 1860, social activist Jane Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois. A leader in social reform, women’s suffrage and world peace, Addams was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Addams was the youngest of eight children born to a prominent Illinois family. Her father, John Addams, was a prosperous businessman and served as a state senator. He was a founding member of the Illinois Republican Party and a… Read the full story

On this day in 1948, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. McAuliffe made history in 1985 when she became the first American civilian to be selected to go into space. Sadly, she died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to participate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project. The purpose of the program was to increase public interest in the space program and… Read the full story

After 72 years on the throne, King Louis XIV of France died on this day in 1715, just four days before his 77th birthday. Louis XIV was born on September 5, 1638 to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Before his birth, his mother had experienced four stillbirths, and so he was named Louis Dieudonné, which was French for “Gift of God.” When he was four, Louis’s father passed away, leaving the toddle to succeed to the French… Read the full story

Today we remember Princess Diana, who passed away on this day nineteen years ago. She was born on July 1, 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk and was the fourth of five children born to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Roche. Her family had been closely allied with the British Royal Family for several generations. Both of her grandmothers served as ladies in waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Diana grew up on the… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, physicist Ernest Rutherford was born in Spring Grove, New Zealand. Dubbed the “Father of the Nuclear Age,” Rutherford’s scientific research led to the first splitting of the atom in 1917. He was the fourth of twelve children born to James Rutherford and Martha Thompson. His mother was a schoolteacher and placed a strong emphasis on the children’s education. When not in school, Rutherford spent his time helping with chores on the… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Michael Jackson! Today the King of Pop would have turned 58. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children born to Katherine Scruse and Joseph “Joe” Jackson. At the age of five, Michael began performing with his older brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. His talent was immediately apparent and it was long before Michael was made the group’s lead… Read the full story

Today the U.S. celebrates Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the day when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified as law. In honor of the day, we’re highlighting Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who helped draft the historical amendment. A leading figure of the women’s rights movement, Stanton’s work helped pave the way for granting women the right to vote. In 1848, Stanton helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention, which was the first women’s rights convention to be… Read the full story

Do you have Russian ancestry? On this day in 1530, the first tsar of Russia, Ivan IV, was born in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia. From a young age, Ivan experienced much tragedy and pain. When he was 3, his father died of an infection from an abscess on his leg. At the request of his father, Ivan was made Grand Prince of Moscow, and his mother acted as regent. However, a few short… Read the full story

Did you know that on this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop across the United States? A pioneer in aviation, Earhart set many records throughout her career. On August 24, 1932, she became the first woman to make a solo nonstop flight across the United States from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey. The flight took a total of 19 hours and 5 minutes and set a woman’s distance record… Read the full story

Do you remember watching I Dream of Jeannie? Today star Barbara Eden celebrates her 85th birthday. She was born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona. As she grew up during the Great Depression, her mother kept her entertained by singing songs. Her early exposure to music left a lasting impression and inspired her to pursue her love of singing and acting. After doing guest spots on a few shows, Eden landed the biggest role… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Fahrenheit 451? On this day in 1920, author Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois. He was the son of Esther Moberg, a Swedish immigrant, and Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, a power and telephone lineman. His seventh great grandmother was Mary Bradbury, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. She managed to escape execution until the Salem Witch Trials were discredited. Since he was… Read the full story

Are you a Star Trek fan? On this day in 1921, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas. As a young man, Roddenberry became interested in aeronautical engineering and earned a pilot license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. During World War II, Roddenberry enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and flew an estimated 89 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Did you know Roddenberry also… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Patrick Swayze on what would have been his 64th birthday. Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas. He was the second child of Patsy Yvonne Helen Karnes, a choreographer and dance instructor, and Jesse Wayne Swayze, an engineering draftsman. Thanks to his mother’s profession, Swayze was introduced to dance at an early age. He showed off his dancing skills in his breakthrough role in the 1987 film Dirty… Read the full story

Today marks the 230th birthday of American folk hero Davy Crockett. David “Davy” Crockett was born on August 17, 1786 in what is present day Tennessee. During the Creek War, Crockett joined the state militia as a scout and spent much of his time hunting wild game for the soldiers. He later served as third sergeant in the War of 1812, but saw little action. After returning home, he served two terms in Congress before leaving politics… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Madonna! Today the iconic singer turns 58. Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to Silvio Anthony Ciccone and Madonna Louise Fortin. At the age of 5, Madonna lost her mother to breast cancer. The loss of her mother significantly affected Madonna as she grew up. Although she remained a straight-A student, Madonna gained attention for her unconventional behavior. After recording her first hit “Everybody,” Madonna’s fame skyrocketed. In… Read the full story

On this day in 1881, director and producer Cecil B. DeMille was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts to Henry de Mille and Matilda Samuel. His surname is of Dutch origin and was spelled as de Mille which he used in private life, however he chose to use the spelling DeMille for professional purposes. He is recognized as a founding father of the Hollywood film industry. Edendale, a historical name for a district in Los Angeles, California was originally… Read the full story

Today we remember Scottish American industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, who died on August 11, 1919 at the age of 83 in Lenox, Massachusetts. He founded the Keystone Bridge Company in 1865 which was an important bridge building company, but he made his fortune in the steel industry. In 1892 he started the Carnegie Steel Company, it was the largest manufacturer of pig iron, steel rails, and coke (a type of fuel derived from coal)… Read the full story

On this day in 1928, American country music singer and businessman Jimmy Dean was born in Plainview, Texas to George Otto Dean and Ruth Taylor. His best known song was in 1961 called “Big Bad John”; the song won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Dean was also a television host, he had a variety TV series called The Jimmy Dean Show which featured comedy, popular music artists and country music… Read the full story

On August 9, 1854, Henry David Thoreau‘s novel Walden was published. Walden is Thoreau’s most famous novel, he also wrote the essay Civil Disobedience. Thoreau was also a poet, philosopher and abolitionist. His writings inspired many notable leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar. His name at birth was David Henry, named… Read the full story

On this day in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from the office of the President of the United States in a nationwide television address. Do you remember watching? After serving as Vice President under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon made his bid for the presidency, but narrowly lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1968, he ran again and won. Nixon’s last years in office were marred by the Watergate scandal. At noon the next day after his televised… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been astronaut Neil Armstrong’s 86th birthday! Neil Alden Armstrong was born to Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise in Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930. Armstrong’s love of flying began at a young age when his father took him on his first airplane flight at the age of five. After serving in the Korean War and finishing college, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which would later… Read the full story

On this day in 1792, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Sussex, England. Regarded as one of the greatest English Romantic poets of the 19th century, Shelley’s work was often characterized as visionary and radical by his peers. Shelley was the eldest legitimate son born to Sir Timothy Shelley, a member of Parliament, and Elizabeth Pilfold. He grew up learning to fish and hunt in the meadows around his home. At the age of 19,… Read the full story

On this day in 1923, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th President of the United States, just hours after the death of President Warren G. Harding. John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was born on July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont. He’s the only U.S. President to be born on Independence Day. Coolidge’s second great-grandfather, John Coolidge, served in the American Revolutionary War. On August 2, 1923, President Harding died suddenly in San Francisco. At… Read the full story

On this day in 1835, American inventor Elisha Gray was born in Barnesville, Ohio. The co-founder of the Western Electric Manufacturing Company, Gray is perhaps best remembered for the controversy surrounding the invention of the telephone. Gray was born into a Quaker family in Ohio and grew up on a farm. An electrical engineer, he held over 70 patents and is often considered the father of the modern music synthesizer. On February 14, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented… Read the full story

Have you read Moby-Dick? On this day in 1819, author Herman Melville was born in New York City, New York. He was the third of eight children born to Allan Melvill and Maria Gansevoort. Both of his grandfathers were heroes of the American Revolutionary War. His paternal grandfather, Major Thomas Melvill, participated in the Boston Tea Party and served as a Major in the Continental Army. Melville’s maternal grandfather, Peter Gansevoort, served as a Colonel during… Read the full story

On this day in 1588, English forces led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Frances Drake defeated the Spanish Armada. Once referred to as the “Invincible Armada,” the defeat of the once-unbeatable Spanish force made England a dominating power in the world. During the late 1580s, tensions between Spain and England had greatly escalated. Queen Elizabeth I dispatched Drake to raid major Spanish ports to great success, which prompted Philip II of Spain to invade England. As… Read the full story

Today we remember former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on what would have been her 87th birthday. Before she marrying John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline worked as an inquiring photographer at the Washington Times-Herald. The couple was introduced by a mutual friend, journalist Charles L. Bartlett, at a dinner party in 1952. They married on September 12, 1953 at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Their wedding was considered the social event of the season with 700 guests… Read the full story